Scott to seek Everglades funding

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that he will seek $130 million in funding for the restoration of the Everglades during the 2014 Legislature.

If approved by lawmakers, it would represent a $60 million increase from this year's funding. The money would be used for a range of critical projects including storm-water storage, improvements on the Tamiami Trial to help Everglades water flow and the completion of the Kissimmee River restoration.

Coupled with Scott's approval last year of a long-term $880 million Everglades restoration plan, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard said Scott's actions would solidify "his reputation as the Everglades governor."

But Scott's commitment to the Everglades is a dramatic shift for a governor who came into office in 2011, seeking to cut Everglades funding to $17 million — down from $50 million.

The up-and-down funding for the Everglades, as well other conservation projects, is one of the reasons why environmental groups say that while Scott's efforts are important, the most significant opportunity to help Florida's environment lies ahead.

Earlier this month, environmental groups — represented by the Florida Land and Water Legacy coalition — announced that they had obtained enough voter signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot that would dedicate a consistent amount of funding each year to the Everglades as well as other environmental projects.

If approved by 60 percent of the voters, the amendment, beginning in July 2015, would require the state to set aside one-third of the revenue collected each year through the state tax on land sales. It would amount to an estimated $10 billion commitment in environmental funding during the next 20 years.

The money could be used for the Everglades, the Florida Forever land-buying program, springs protection, drinking water sources and a host of other environmental projects.

"The Water and Land Legacy amendment is one of the most important conservation initiatives to ever come before the voters," said Manley Fuller, president of the Florida Wildlife Federation.

The amendment gives Floridians the chance "to make land conservation, clean water and critical wildlife habitat protection a major tenet of our state constitution," Fuller said.

Critics have questioned the amendment, arguing that by earmarking a large portion of a major state funding source, it will limit future lawmakers and governors as they decide Florida's spending priorities.

But environmentalists say dedicating a consistent amount of money to conservation lands and other environmental projects will help the state in the long run.

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The continuous tug-of-war between environmental needs and state funding also was exemplified on Wednesday when Scott and the state Cabinet — meeting in Kissimmee — approved a new priority list for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

The program allows the state to buy conservation easements on ranches and other large rural properties, with the agreement that the owners keep the property largely as it is.

State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said the program "protects the environmental benefits of the land, while allowing agricultural operations to continue."

"These lands will remain in the hands of private owners and will continue to generate revenue, create jobs and support the local economy," Putnam said.

Charles Lee, a lobbyist for Audubon of Florida, said he considers the rural lands program "one of the most important elements of our land acquisition efforts in Florida."

Lee, who has more than 40 years of experience as an Audubon advocate, said the presence of the large rural tracts in Central Florida helped protect the bald eagle when the species was threatened in the state.

But like other environmental initiatives, funding remains an issue.

Lee told Scott and the Cabinet that the top tier projects on the new rural lands list represent a cost of more than $100 million, while the program currently has $11.5 million in funding.

If the Land and Water Legacy amendment is approved, it could bolster the program because the amendment specifically endorses the use of funding to preserve "working farms and ranches."

In the meantime, Lee said the environmental groups will advocate for a boost to $25 million for the rural lands program in the new budget that will be debated by the 2014 Legislature.

"We think it's right and we think it's reasonable," he said.

BALLOT MEASURE
The Florida Land and Water Legacy constitutional amendment will be on the November 2014 general election ballot.
Here is what it would do:
--Require the state to set aside one-third of the annual revenue from the state tax on real estate transactions and use that money on conservation programs and projects.
--Generate an estimated $10 billion during the next 20 years.
--The money can be used for Everglades restoration, the Florida Forever land-buying program, springs protection, the development of drinking water sources, conservation easements and a host of other environmental-related projects.
--If approved by 60 percent of the voters, the amendment takes effect on July 1, 2015.

Last modified: January 22, 2014
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